Everyone,
I'm currently (2:18 a.m. - March 24, 2003) monitoring reports of
American casualties and wounded in the war in Iraq.
On my short-wave radio, on 11.175 MHz USB, I heard at 1:45 a.m. CST,
10:45 a.m. Iraqi time, I heard a USAF Air Mobility Command aircraft,
REACH 851-YANKEE (a transport), calling a command post code-named NUTMEG
to say, "We've got wounded incoming, and some casualties." The operator
also said, "we're hanging in there." He also made references to the
"Iraqi theater" and to un-identified units WHISKEY YANKEE MIKE and
YANKEE HOTEL PAPA. (Three letter designations are known as "NATO
trigraphs" and are tactical call-signs. They could refer to anything or
anyone.)
I later heard calls to MAINSAIL (a general call to any command post who
is receiving) from another air transport, REACH 169-YANKEE, saying,
"MAINSAIL, MAINSAIL, break, break, we're 2 hours and 45 minutes out with
48 passengers and 4 prisoners. We're coming in (garbled), and we have no
further information to report." This call came in at 2:00 a.m. CST,
11:00 a.m. Iraqi time.
At 2:12 a.m. CST, 11:12 a.m. Iraqi time, I heard REACH 119-YANKEE (still
another transport) in communication with a command post code-named
"ARGOT" (at least that's what it sounded like). This air transport
reported to the command post that he was "Alpha 3 on the deck" and "30
minutes out," with "12 wounded -- 9 litters, and 3 ambulatory." He also
said "we need three ambulances and #1 needs the auxiliary tank." The
command post confirmed that they had "ACLS on board" and "7 medical crew
members, and 9 aircraft crew members" on board.
The war is REAL!
People are dying!
STOP THE WAR NOW!
Cliff Pearson
Dallas, Texas USA